Queen's Park
Miniature Railway Chesterfield, Derbyshire
A short history
The Queen's Park Miniature Railway is located in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. This booklet describes the two miniature railways that have been built in the park since the 1970's. Background to the miniature railway The cycle route which runs along the northern edge of the the Queen's Park was originally the trackbed of the Brampton branch off the Midland Railway main line. It served the gasworks and the factories south of Chatsworth Road. Both Park Road and Boythorpe Road had level crossings. The gates remained in place many years after the track was lifted. Boythorpe Road was the scene of an unfortunate accident on Christmas Eve 1885 as reported below; SHOCKING FATAL ACCIDENT TO A COLLIERY MANAGER ! On Christmas Eve a shocking accident occurred at Boythorpe, near Chesterfield, to Mr. John Harrison, manager of the Chesterfield and Boythorpe Colliery Company Limited, which Mr. Harrison was almost instantly killed, leaving a widow and seven small children to bewail their loss.! It appears Mr. Harrison had been in Chesterfield with his wife making purchases, and about 4.30 o'clock he sent his wife and some children home in a cab and followed on foot shortly afterwards.! He was accompanied part of the way by a friend who parted with him near a level crossing of the Boythorpe Colliery Line.! His friend noticed that the engine had steam up, and cautioned Mr. Harrison to mind how he crossed the line, to which Mr. Harrison replied that he knew the place well. The next thing known was that a man named Bridgett observed the train pass, and immediately afterwards saw Mr. Harrison lying on the ground. He ran to him and found one arm (the left) torn from his body, and it was evident he had sustained other tearful injuries.! Bridgett removed the dying man a short distance from the rails, and then ran for aid.! He returned in a few moments with some other men, but Mr. Harrison expired almost instantly.! The scene of the accident is only a few yards from Mr. Harrison's residence, where his wife and children were awaiting his return.! The intelligence spread gloom over Chesterfield on Christmas Day.
The extensive network of sidings south of Chatsworth Road served several enterprises and Robinsons had their own locomotive to shunt wagons.
Beginings of an idea As early as 1963 thoughts were turning towards leisure use of the railway line next to the park. The site of the car park to the north of the leisure centre was a childrens playground at the time. One proposal was that a main line locomotive be brought to the playground along the soon to be closed branch line as an exhibit in the playground. This proposal came to nothing. In 1972 the idea of a miniature railway from Boythorpe Road to Park Road was put forward. This would have produced a line that would have had some use as a service to transport people towards the town centre but problems with steel shortage for the rail, concerns about safety passing under the footbridge from the town and potential expansion of the cricket facilities meant that the original plan was truncated. The line would start near Boythorpe Road and run out to just before the footbridge. Left, Original idea for railway from Boythorpe Road to Park Road.
Below, Plan for Boythorpe Road station
Work started preparing for the line in 1974 with a budget of ÂŁ15,000. The line was laid with aluminium rail to 101/4" gauge. Rolling stock was acquired from Cromer White and consisted of a diesel locomotive powered by a Petter 304cc engine giving 6.5 BHP. The locomotive was based on the 'Hymek' diesel hydraulic in service with the Western region of British Railways. The line started operations on Monday 12th April 1976 operating on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Bank holidays and school holidays.
Operations were simply out and back with the loco running round the train at the footbridge end of the line.
Much use seems to have been made of the horn on the locomotive as this complaint from the adjacent office building shows.
In 1983 there were various ideas about different stock for the railway. There had been several maintenance issues with the diesel locomotive resulting in an exchange diesel engine being fitted and new gearbox oil seals. Steam traction was certainly considered and it was generally thought that it would provide a better attraction. Thinking of local connections the council answered an advert for a live steam 2' gauge Stephensons Rocket and coaches and made an offer which was rejected. The well known miniature railway manufacturer Severn Lamb was engaged to inspect the Rocket in south Wales and report on the suitability of building a 101/4" gauge Rocket. Severn Lamb advised the council that a small steam powered Rocket would be unsuitable and suggested a diesel powered steam outline locomotive locomotive would require less maintenance and be more suitable for the operations envisaged.
During 1984 as part of the redevelopment of the park to include the new Leisure Centre and car park it was decided to relay the track around the lake with one point and a spur line running back to the original stock shed.
The official opening by the Mayor of Chesterfield was on 15th March 1986. Normal operations commenced on 3rd May 1986 using the original locomotive and running in an anti-clockwise direction on a track now 470 metres long laid with steel rail at 12lbs per yard.
After a year of running on the new track it was decided to try to find a replacement more suited to the operations and fitting in with the Victorian nature of the park. Severn Lamb suggested that there was a suitable locomotive and three carriages available at the Trago Mills railway in Devon. It was only one year old being built in 1988 . The stock was bought in January 1989 for ÂŁ32,000. This locomotive was much larger than the original. It was a steam outline diesel hydraulic with the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement. Weight was 2 tonnes. Powered by a Perkins 4.108 diesel.
A buyer was found for the original stock. It was sold in 1989 to the Paradise Park & Woodland Zoo in Broxbourne Herts for ÂŁ5000.
When the new stock arrived it was decided to run in a clockwise direction and the train continues to run that way today. Following severe flooding in 2007 the line was given a thorough overhaul. A competition was run to name the locomotive. The winning entry was 'Puffing Billy' and the loco now carries this name. The stock shed has two tracks, one holds two coaches and one holds one coach and the locomotive. When the train is operating the loco pulls one coach out of the shed. If the day is expected to be busy the train then reverses to couple up to the other two coaches. After maintenance checks the train moves slowly across the car park ungated level crossing, then across a pathway in the park until clear of the point on the circular track. After a circuit of the track to check all is well the first public train is ready. Passengers are given two circuits of the lake per trip. At the end of the day the train reverses back to the stock shed.
The railway operates on weekends from Easter until October half term with daily operations during school holidays. As well as the railway there is a cafe in the park. During the summer months the lake has rowing boats for hire. The cricket pitch has matches during the season including some Derbyshire Cricket Club fixtures.
Written by Alastair Meikle with thanks to Sarah Poulton, Queen's Park Development Officer for the use of official documents 2009 For more details see www.chesterfield.gov.uk www.friendsofqueenspark.org